Prepare to spend hours in traffic if you’re heading to Joshua Tree National Park to see the Perseid meteor shower.
“Due to the park’s proximity to major cities, traffic can be heavy and can cause delays of up to several hours while entering the park,” said the National Park Service in a statement.
The meteor shower will happen between August 10 to August 12, with the peak on Monday night. This year, it occurs during a first quarter moon, which will reduce the visibility of the celestial event compared to last year. The 2023 shower generated a huge surge in traffic with thousands of visitors arriving at the park on the same night.
If you’re planning to visit the certified dark night sky area, plan ahead by buying entrance passes in advance at recreation.gov. Pack out your trash, minimize the usage of artificial light, and keep sound to a minimum. Remember, there’s no food or water available to purchase inside the park.
